Biblical Eschatology

The Parables of Jesus

In regards to the Olivet Discourse given by Jesus in Matthew chapters 24 & 25, the late John Walvoord, who was a foremost theologian for the pretribulational view, states that "All agree that there is no mention of a pretribulational rapture in this passage."⁽¹⁾

Walvoord goes on to state that the pretribulational rapture "is not found at all in Matthew, Mark, or Luke."⁽²⁾

Walvoord does indicate that Jesus did teach about a pretrib rapture in one place in the Gospels, which was John 14.⁽³⁾

This seems quite odd that the Olivet Discourse which dealt specifically with the end times outline, that Jesus would not mention the rapture once, but yet does in John 14. This is very odd when in Matthew 24:3 it states "As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?'" If the disciples asked the question, why would Jesus not tell them plainly about a pretrib rapture? Why would He completely ignore the topic? Matthew 7:9-10 states "⁹'Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? ¹⁰'Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?"

Jesus was pretty detailed in His answer, taking up two chapters in the Matthew account of the Olivet Discourse. Was Jesus trying to confuse them by bringing a pretrib rapture up later, without any details? Also Jesus puts in a pretty good timeline of end time events, why would the rapture be missing?

What's odd is that Jesus gave no real details of a secret rapture in John 14, but simply not to be discouraged, that He would come back for them again. Isn't this the same thing he told the disciples in the Olivet Discourse?

The bottom line is that Jesus never taught a Pretrib rapture, because it is not Biblical. In fact he even gives a parable to outline that there will not be two separate resurrections. It will all happen all at once, but yet for some reason pretribulationists choose to completely ignore what Jesus said.

Matthew 13:24-30 NASB
²⁴Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵"But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. ²⁶"But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. ²⁷"The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' ²⁸"And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' The slaves said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?' ²⁹"But he *said, 'No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰'Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

Matthew 13:47-50 NASB
⁴⁷"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; ⁴⁸and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. ⁴⁹"So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, ⁵⁰and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.